July 8, 2011 - Glastonbury Citizen

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News Bulletin
Serving Amston, Andover, Cobalt, Colchester, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Middle Haddam and Portland
Volume 36, Number 14 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen July 8, 2011
Belltown Gathers to
Welcome Home Veteran
Navy Commander Michael Flatley received a hero’s welcome in East Hampton
last Thursday, as nearly 100 residents gathered to pay tribute. He received a daddy’s
welcome as well, as daughter Riley, 5, grabbed onto Flatley’s leg during the festivities
and refused to let go.
by Joshua Anusewicz
Close to 100 East Hampton residents kicked
off the Fourth of July weekend last Thursday
with a tribute that perfectly fit the spirit of the
holiday – by welcoming home one of our
country’s finest.
Family, friends, neighbors, veterans, town
officials and grateful residents lined Chatham
Fields Road on a picture-perfect summer day
for the return of Navy Commander Michael
Flatley, who recently finished his third tour in
Iraq. Led by members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, a color guard and local Boy Scouts,
Flatley and his family marched down the street
to his home as those in attendance waved American flags and cheered.
Flatley has been a part of the Navy for 16
years, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and, most recently,
Operation New Dawn, which he has been a part
of since August 2010.
“Welcome home, Mr. Mike!” shouted a group
of neighborhood children, including one young
girl holding a sign that read “We love our
troops.”
Leading the family were the two oldest
Flatley children – Sean, 12, and Kailey, 9 – who
waved flags and proudly wore red, white and
blue. The third child – 5-year-old Riley – waved
a flag and held her mother Emily’s hand as
Flatley, dressed in his military fatigues, thanked
the crowd.
Right behind the Flatley family was Ann
McLaughlin and her grandson, Sgt. Arron
McLaughlin. Ann started the Yellow Ribbon
Welcome Home Program earlier this year to
welcome home the town’s soldiers after Arron,
a Purple Heart recipient, returned from Afghanistan in 2010.
Inspired by his return, Ann approached the
Town Council about honoring the town’s soldiers currently serving by tying yellow ribbons
around the tree on the island in Village Center.
At a ceremony on Memorial Day, each of the
families of the four soldiers currently serving
was presented with a yellow ribbon that was
tied to the tree and will be removed when the
soldier returns. Ann also asked residents to welcome home the soldiers by lining their street
with flag-waving residents.
Ann only had one word for the ceremony,
the program’s first – “unbelievable.”
“These people who came out today are so
great,” she added.
When the family arrived at the front of their
home, which was adorned with a banner that
read “Welcome home Daddy – we missed you,”
residents gathered around Flatley and an inspiring chorus of “God Bless America” rose from
the crowd.
See Veteran Page 2
Spruced-Up Eagle Rock Defaced in Hebron
by Courtney Parent
Vandalism struck Hebron over the holiday
weekend, in the form of red paint splattered on
the recently-refurbished Eagle Rock.
The landmark, located on Route 66 near Paper Mill Road, was just repainted and brought
back to life by local resident Andy Bordick and
his family a little over a month ago, on Memorial Day weekend. However, despite an overwhelming positive response, that did not prevent vandals from defacing the bird.
Despite the vandal’s attempt, efforts to remove the red paint have already taken place and
the town’s eagle is once again glowing with
beauty. On another bright note, according to
Hebron Resident State Trooper Jim Nolting,
someone has “fessed up” to the crime. However, as the Eagle Rock resides on state property and there is no complainant, Nolting said
they are currently in the midst of figuring out
“where to go from here.”
According to local resident Andy Bordick,
who took on the task of painting the rock with
the aid of his family over Memorial Day weekend, he first saw the vandalism when driving
home this Monday, July 4, after a long holiday
weekend.
While many were angry over the defacing
of the town landmark, Bordick was not. Rather
than getting upset, Bordick pointed to his understanding of the “temporary nature of art” by
using his sons as an example.
As is a family tradition, Bordick said he
“usually” creates a sand sculpture for his sons,
10-year-old Calvin and 9-year-old Jack, during the Fourth of July weekend. The sculpture
takes approximately one to two hours to create, said Bordick. Then Bordick said, after the
family spends approximately 15 minutes admiring the sculpture, Jack and Calvin destroy
it.
“That rock is not my rock, nor the vandal’s
rock,” said Bordick. “It’s a temporary location
for that paint. So I wasn’t too upset by it. I appreciate that in America, we have the freedom
of speech and if someone wants to make a lame
attempt at a war protest – which this appeared
to be – then they have every right to do that.”
Bordick went on to explain that he served
11 years in the United States Navy to support
that right.
After seeing the vandalism, Bordick said that
Lara and himself had decided they would fix
up the rock as soon as time allowed. However,
much to his surprise when he arrived on site on
Tuesday, two other local residents were already
hard at work.
Local residents Robert Nilsen and Efenger
Bartholomew (who lives on the property located directly behind the rock), were in the process of hooking up a power washer when
See Rock Defacing, Page 2
Eagle Rock, located in Hebron on Route 66, was vandalized with red paint over
the Fourth of July weekend. The local landmark had recently been spruced up by
area residents.
From the Editor’s Desk
Observations & Ruminations
Michael Flatley’s family joined him for a walk down Chatham Field Road, as
onlookers cheered. Flatley is in the rear, alongside his youngest daughter Riley, 5,
and wife Emily. In the forefront are his other two children, Sean, 12, and Kailey, 9.
Veteran cont. from Front Page
After a few short words from Ann
McLaughlin and Town Council members Christopher Goff and Melissa Engel thanking him
for his service, Flatley obliged those requesting a speech. He took the opportunity to share
his appreciation for the ceremony and explain
what the support meant to a soldier.
“I’m honored to see you all here,” Flatley
said. “To see all of your support is truly heartwarming. I know that as a soldier, we are always pleased to know we have the support of
our countrymen and women back home.”
Flatley also thanked his family for their support, particularly thanking his wife Emily, explaining that serving one’s country and raising
a family is a “team effort.”
Sticking with the spirit of Independence Day,
Flatley also reminded everyone to be thankful
for the country we live in.
“We are blessed to be born into this country
that we share,” said Flatley, who finished his
words by saying “God bless America,” followed
by the military “Hoo-rah!”
At the conclusion of the speech, the crowd
broke into a spontaneous and emotional rendi-
Rock Defacing cont. from Front Page
Bordick arrived.
Nilsen said that when he first arrived, Lara
was already at work washing the paint off the
rock. After telling her he would return in five
minutes, Nilsen proceeded to Bartholomew’s
home (his neighbor whom he had never met)
to ask if he could use his water. At that point it
became a group effort as Nilsen took charge
power washing and Lara continued to scrub off
the unwanted red paint.
When asked what made him jump to action,
Nilsen said it was the national symbol of the
eagle being tarnished – and while surrounded
by multiple American flags no less.
“It had to be fixed,” Nilsen said after cleaning the rock. “You can’t leave it that way. Now
it looks like it did four days ago.”
While Bordick may not have seen this incident as a reason for resentment, others seemed
to disagree. Town Manager Bonnie Therrien
said that there is “no reason or rhyme” as to
why someone would commit this crime.
Therrien also said Tuesday that if the culprit
was caught she would ask that they be “prosecuted to the fullest.”
Therrien also expressed her sadness towards
the Bordick family who had put so much hard
work into restoring the face of the eagle.
“The rock looked so bright and the art work
tion of the National Anthem, as Flatley held
Riley against his shoulder and helped her sing.
Residents then took turns going up to Flatley,
thanking him for his service and welcoming him
home personally. When someone asked if this
would be his best Fourth of July, he took no
time replying – “absolutely.”
Flatley said he would be spending his first
night home “making a fire in the backyard,
relaxing and enjoying a beautiful summer
night,” but he will soon be on the move again.
Fortunately, it will not be a deployment; the
family will be moving to Texas in August,
where Flatley will then be stationed. He said
he has not received word on any future deployments.
According to McLaughlin, Flatley will be
removing his yellow ribbon at a ceremony later
this month as part of a joint ceremony with
Senior Airman Nicholas Pawlak, who will return later this month. Also at the ceremony,
McLaughlin said she hopes to honor three residents that will leave for service this summer by
placing yellow ribbons on the tree.
was fantastic,” Therrien said. “[It’s] just a tragedy on a piece of art that represents our community.”
According to Therrien, this is not the first
case of vandalism within the town, as there have
been problems at Veterans Park as well as one
of the other local parks. However, Therrien said
no one has yet been caught in connection with
the park vandalism.
Hebron Historical Society President Donna
McCalla, who had been looking for volunteers
to spruce up the 22-year-old Eagle Rock before Bordick approached her earlier this year,
expressed her dismay this week at the vandalism.
“All I can say is it is a shame that a beautiful
place that welcomes people to our wonderful
community was picked for destructive behavior,” McCalla said. “I hope whoever is responsible will admit their actions and apologize to
the community as a whole.”
Bordick said he did not hold any “ill feelings” toward whomever committed the vandalism, and said he would proceed to keep this
symbol of the town looking its best.
“The next time someone paints something
on there, I’ll likely try to touch her up again,”
Bordick said, “unless of course, the new paint
makes it look better!”
by Mike Thompson
There was a tragic, rather ironic and very
much avoidable death in upstate New York
over the weekend. Philip A. Contos, 55, died
Sunday in a motorcycle accident, while protesting the state’s mandatory helmet law.
While riding his motorcycle in Onondaga,
Contos hit the brakes and his 1983 Harley
Davidson fishtailed, police said. Contos went
over the handlebars of the motorcycle and hit
his head on the pavement.
He was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, where he was pronounced dead.
New York State Trooper Jack Keller told
ABC News 9 in Syracuse, “The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced [Contos] deceased stated that he
would’ve no doubt survived the accident had
he been wearing a helmet.”
Contos and 550 other motorcyclists were
participating in an annual ride organized by
American Bikers Aimed Toward Education
(ABATE), a group of motorcycle enthusiasts
who, according to abcnews.com, “lobby for
motorcycle awareness and freedom.”
Yes, freedom to not wear life-saving helmets if you don’t want to. You’re also free to
stick your hand inside a running lawn mower;
does that make it a good idea?
New York is one of 20 states that require
all motorcyclists to wear helmets. I’ve felt
passionately for a long time that Connecticut
should also have such a requirement, but we
don’t. In fact, reading about Contos’ all-toopreventable death Sunday made me think of
a column I wrote in this very space nearly
three years ago, advocating a mandatory helmet law in Connecticut. Sadly, the column is
just as valid today as it was then (well, except for the mention of then-Gov. M. Jodi
Rell). It would’ve been nice if, by now, we’d
enacted a mandatory helmet law. I’m still
hopeful that one day, soon, we will.
Anyway, here are my thoughts on the subject, as they appeared in the Aug. 21, 2008,
Rivereast:
I had to go to Middletown Sunday afternoon, and since it was a nice day (warm,
sunny, no rain), I opted to go the old-fashioned way — avoiding the highway, instead
going through Glastonbury and Portland,
across the bridge and into Middletown that
way. It was just a good day for a scenic drive,
and apparently many motorcyclists agreed
with me, as I passed several bikers while making my way through Glastonbury and Portland. And I was disappointed, though not all
that surprised, by just how many of them
weren’t wearing helmets.
Connecticut doesn’t have a state law requiring adult motorcyclists to wear helmets.
If you’re under 18, you have to wear one. But
if you’re over 18, it’s apparently every man
for himself. And from what I’ve seen, many
motorcyclists here in the Nutmeg State opt
to just ride without one. I just don’t get it. It
seems like it would be common sense to want
to protect your head if you’re biking down
the road at speeds of 40, 50, 60 miles per hour.
If you get into an accident, you could go flying.
Studies have shown head injuries to be the
leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents. Studies have also proven wearing helmets greatly reduces both risk of death and
severe brain injuries if you get into a motorcycle accident. I just don’t see what the big
deal is here. Is feeling the wind blow through
your hair really worth all that?
I also don’t get why Connecticut has no
law requiring adult motorcyclists to wear helmets. To make teens under 18 wear them, but
not adults, is silly. Yes, those under 18 would
be less-experienced drivers. But experienced
drivers get into accidents too. Just pick up a
newspaper or turn on the news. It happens. I
mean, if you’re going to say motorcyclists can
take off their helmets as soon as they turn 18,
why not do the same with seat belts? As soon
as we turn 18, just stop making us wear them.
They’re so annoying anyway. And those buckles can get really hot in the summer sun. However, last time I checked, the state seat belt
law isn’t getting repealed.
I was looking into this matter on the
Internet, and came across a chart showing
which states require all motorcyclists – not
just teenagers – to wear helmets and which
ones don’t. You might be surprised by the
company Connecticut keeps. Or rather, by the
company we don’t keep. Many of the southern states (Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee,
North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia) all
have helmet laws. Our neighbors both to the
north (Massachusetts) and west (New York)
have them. (In fact, Gov. Rell has commented
she’s seen motorcyclists cross the border from
New York into Connecticut, take off their helmets, and keep on going.) California has mandatory helmet laws. So does New Jersey.
Now, to be fair, there are also states that
are like us, with just requiring teens to wear
helmets. And there are three states – Illinois,
Iowa and New Hampshire – that don’t have
helmet laws of any kind, for teens or adults.
But that doesn’t, in my opinion, make it right.
If you ask me, they all should have all-ages
helmet laws.
One could argue that it should be the responsibility of the individual motorcyclist,
that he should be the one making the call in
this situation. And I might buy that if I saw
the right calls being made more often. But I
don’t. When driving back from Middletown
Sunday, I was in Glastonbury and noticed, on
my right side, a bicyclist and, on my left side,
three motorcyclists driving down the road. The
bicyclist wore a helmet. The motorcyclists did
not. Something’s not quite right about this
picture.
***
See you next week.
AHM Swings “Fore!” Funds
by Courtney Parent
This coming Monday, July 11, AHM Youth
and Family Services Inc. will hold its eighth
annual Invitational Golf Open at the Blackledge
Country Club. This year’s event will begin at 9
a.m. on Monday, with a shotgun start at 9:30
a.m.
AHM’s goal is to raise $12,000 with all of
the proceeds going back to help keep AHM
programs operating for the next 12 months for
the children and families of Andover, Columbia, Hebron, and Marlborough. The cost to participate is $125 for individuals or $400 if you
pre-register as a group of four; a total savings
of $100.
The main addition to this year’s event, AHM
Executive Director Joel Rosenberg said, was
the “new level of giving” to support the golf
tournament. In past years, there have been four
different sponsorship levels based on the size
of the donation. However, this year, there has
been an addition of the now largest sponsorship level for donations between $1,000 and
$3,000, the Leader Board sponsor.
So far, the new addition has proved to be a
success, putting AHM well on its way to reaching its $12,000 goal. Rosenberg said Tuesday
there were already five Leader Board sponsors:
Ted’s IGA supermarket, Hebron Pharmacy,
Americare Medical Supply, Marcus Communications and the Miller family.
“We’re very excited because these are major
donors that will make this an even more successful fundraiser,” Rosenberg said.
In addition to its donation, Ted’s IGA will
also host an afternoon picnic and send a com-
plimentary hotdog cart out on the course.
As in previous years, the crowd expected is
a diverse one, coming from all across Connecticut and some from outside the state. According to Rosenberg, there will not only be
avid golfers, but also those who are new to the
game.
“There will be businesspeople, retirees, police, educators, people from the corporate community and people from the faith community,”
Rosenberg said, “all drawn together to support
AHM.”
As of Tuesday, Rosenberg said there were
80 players signed up and he anticipated that
number would increase before tournament time
on Monday. In past years, Rosenberg said the
tournament has seen “great numbers” and if the
weather cooperates, the same should hold true
this year.
Rosenberg added that, in light of the budget
difficulties the state has been experiencing, the
fundraiser will be extremely beneficial to
AHM’s “overall financial health.”
“I am confident that we will reach our goal
and we may be pleasantly surprised,” said
Rosenberg.
According to Rosenberg, the annual golf
tournament is one of AHM’s four major
fundraisers. The other three include an annual
telethon, an appearance at the Maple Festival
and a fall foliage concert.
Although Rosenberg continues to see increased donations each year, he said he never
ceases to be surprised by the ample generosity
shown by individuals, families and businesses
in the area.
The annual AHM Invitational Golf Open returns next Monday to the Blackledge
Country Club. Pictured is a scene of happy golfers ready to “start their clubs” at
last year’s event.
And while this event may be to benefit AHM,
the youth service bureau won’t be the only winner next Monday. Awards will be given to the
top golfers and teams in the male, female and
mixed categories. All participants will also re-
ceive a courtesy hospitality bag, snacks, and
an AHM Golf Tournament shirt.
To enter the tournament, or for more information, call Rosenberg at 860-228-9488.
‘Glorious Celebration’ Makes its Return in East Hampton
by Joshua Anusewicz
An East Hampton summer tradition has arrived, as the 33rd annual Old Home Days Glorious Celebration takes over the town this weekend. The celebration, which began yesterday,
will end Saturday night.
As is the case every year, the main attraction will be the parade, which will begin on
Saturday at 11 a.m. at the high school. The
theme of this year’s parade – which the Old
Home Days website describes as the largest in
Middlesex County – is “Cosmic Carnival.”
According to Sheila Oakes, one of the parade’s
organizers, the theme is meant to be taken anyway the parade-goers see fit. Even she admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“My first thoughts was, ‘What in the world
does that mean?’” Oakes said. “But we want
people to interpret it how they feel. Everyone
has their own idea, and we hope to get some
creative people.”
The Old Home Days Association interpreted
“Cosmic Carnival” to mean ideas like outer
space, Mardi Gras, Rio’s Carnival or colorful
designs of the 60s and 70s; the more creative,
the better.
Oakes said that joining the parade this year
will be new Town Manager John Weichsel,
Shriners from Hartford and Springfield, MA,
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and two of
Belltown’s newly-minted champions: the East
Hampton High School baseball team that won
the state title, and Nathan Abraham, who won
the state title in pole vault.
Oakes said there will be also be a new addition to the parade and carnival: the Roaming
Railroad, a trackless train that shuttles up to 22
riders. The train will participate in the parade,
and then will be available to take riders up and
down Main Street for several hours after the
parade. And the best part, Oakes said, is that
it’s free.
Another one of the highlights of Old Home
Days is the raffle, which will give away 12
prizes to people who purchase a $10 raffle
ticket. Some of this year’s prizes include a
Hasqvarna Riding Mower, a Weber gas grill,
gift cards to Stop & Shop and Citgo, an Android cell phone and four tickets to a Yankees
game, among others. Only 1,000 tickets will
be sold and the drawing will be on Saturday at
8 p.m. at Center School.
There will also be drawings for the East
Hampton Police Department raffle for a HarleyDavidson motorcycle and Friends of Lake
Pocotopaug’s $10,000 cash raffle. There will
also be over 60 bicycles that were donated by
local businesses that will be part of a bicycle
giveaway for children 12 and under.
For those that prefer to sit back and enjoy
some live entertainment, all three days will provide more than enough to keep patrons satisfied. Acts will range from magician The Amazing Andy kicking things off on Thursday, to
crowd favorite and local band Neybas on Friday, to rock cover band Radio Giant closing
out the festival on Saturday.
If music isn’t your thing and physical fitness
is, the 13th annual Glorious Gallop will take
place at 7:15 p.m. tonight. The five-kilometer
road race drew over 400 participants last year,
and Oakes expects a similar number this year,
with runners coming from as far as California.
If you haven’t registered, you can do so tonight
at Center School up until 6:43 p.m. – the time
the last shuttle leaves to take racers to Seven Hills
Crossing, the 5K’s starting point. Registration
fee is $15. The race will offer prizes to the top
three finishers of each gender in each age group,
free T-shirts while supplies last, medals to finishers under 13 and other random awards.
The carnival at Old Home Days will also be
bringing back Bowdoin Amusements, which
provided the rides for the first time last year.
Carnival organizer Melissa Engel said they did
“a terrific job” last year and will be bringing
back favorites like bumper boats, a giant slide
and a Ferris wheel. Engel also said that the car-
The three-day Old Home Days event has returned to East Hampton. The annual
festivities began yesterday and will run through Saturday. One of the highlights is
the annual parade, which will take place on Saturday. Pictured is a float from last
year’s parade, designed by the non-profit organization Epoch Arts.
nival will offer a larger assortment of food, providing snacks for all tastes.
“We will definitely be featuring a better selection,” Engel said. “We don’t want any duplicates, so we have a big assortment.” Thai
chicken on a stick, which has been a favorite in
years past, and its vendor Thai Awesome, will
return and will offer a second booth this year
with other offerings.
President Jim Vick said that there will be a
discounted ticket rate this year, with $15 “allyou-can-ride” wristbands for Thursday and Friday night or half-day sessions on Saturday. “It’s
a real bargain,” said Vick, adding that other festivals will charge as much as $25 for a wristband.
Vick said that he hopes that all of the work
done by the Old Home Days Association is
enjoyed by those who visit the festival, and still
can’t believe how all of the work is done by so
few people.
“It’s pretty amazing what a small group can
pull off,” Vick said. “We are excited it’s finally
here and excited to see it take off.”
For more information about Old Home Days,
visit easthamptonoldhomedays.org.
Hebron Fresh Air Fund Forms Families
by Courtney Parent
Upon pulling into the parking lot of Connecticut Golf Land and Games in Vernon Tuesday
afternoon, you could see men, women and children with smiling faces; however, these weren’t
caused by rounds of miniature golf or swings
in the batting cages.
While peering through the parking lot you
could also notice balloons, welcome signs covered with glitter, smiley faces and hearts, as well
as welcome messages and artwork on vehicle
windows. The gleeful gathering was actually
for the arrival of 25 children from New York
City as part of the Fresh Air Fund.
And of those 25 kids, four were headed for
Hebron.
The Fresh Air Fund is a not-for-profit organization that provides free summer vacations
to approximately 10,000 New York City youths
each year and has provided more than 1.7 million children with the vacation opportunity
since its inception in 1877.
Children are selected to participate in the
Fresh Air Fund’s programs based on financial
need. Children are from low-income communities, residing in any of the five boroughs in
New York City.
According to Fresh Air Fund’s Kim Sztaba,
who was present at the Vernon arrival, the program serves children ranging in age from six to
18. Children must be placed with a family for
the first-time between the ages of six and 12;
from there children can return to the same host
family until they reach the age of 18. Sztaba
said that while there are some fresh faces in the
crowd from year to year, many are “repeaters,”
who host a child for multiple years.
An example of one such “repeater” family
can be found in Hebron at the Verrengia residence. Kelly Verrengia said her family has participated in the program for the past 9 years,
hosting now 15-year-old Brianna from the time
she was six. (Verrengia serves as assistant to
Michelle Byam, the Hebron-area chairperson
for the Fresh Air Fund.)
“She’s really become a member of the family,” said Verrengia.
During her time in Hebron, Verrengia said
the things Brianna likes the most are spending
time outside in the water and enjoying all of
the elements of country living.
“She loves to swim and go to farms,” said
Verrengia, “the simple things are what she re-
ally loves to do.”
According to Verrengia, the experience has
not only been beneficial to Brianna, but has
served as a learning tool for her three children
as well. Brianna has aided in teaching
Verrengia’s three children – 18-year-old
Katelynn, 13-year-old Kylie, and 10-year-old
Carter – to enjoy the simple pleasures in life,
rather than the “extravagant” ones.
Although Brianna is on a vacation away from
the city, she still aids the Verrengia family with
the typical household chores and takes turns
cooking dinner.
While the Fresh Air Fund summer trips typically last for seven to 10 days, Verrengia said
they have extended visits in the past because of
the “really good relationship” that has developed between Brianna and the family. And
Verrengia’s family is not the only one to extend visits; she said she has friends who have
even hosted the children for holidays.
Though the program only takes place for a
short period of time during the summer months,
the relationship formed is one that will last a
lifetime. Verrengia said the family stays in contact with Brianna throughout the year, mostly
via the telephone. She said she encourages
Brianna to “try to use her writing skills, but
she prefers to call.”
No one understands the strong relationships
formed through the Fresh Air Fund program
better than Byam. Not only has Byam been
engulfed in the Fresh Air Fund system since
the age of 8, but her family has served as hosts
for the past eight years as well.
When Byam was just a young girl, her
mother served as the state representative for the
Fresh Air Fund. During this time, Byam said
their family had kids in and out “all summer
long.”
As an adult, after she got married but before
she had children, Byam decided to get involved
with the fund, interviewing families interested
in hosting and escorting children on the trips to
and from New York City. (In order to host a
child, families or individuals must complete an
application process and adhere to at-home interviews.)
Once her daughter, now 16-year-old Brianna,
turned 7, Byam decided it was her family’s turn
to host. It was at that time that they first met
Harlem native, Tajonay. Tajonay is now 15 years
Area families gathered in Vernon Tuesday to welcome 25 children from New York
City. The families – four of which were from Hebron – were participants in the
Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit organization that provides summer vacations to
New York City youth.
old and has grown up with both Byam’s daughter Brianna and her 12-year-old son Brendan.
Byam has taken the one week summer vacation above and beyond anything that could be
classified as “typical.” Aside from the annual
summer visit, Tajonay has come to visit for
numerous holidays and celebrations including
coming for Easter two years ago, Mother’s Day
last year, and most recently visiting in May to
celebrate Brianna’s “sweet 16.” Tajonay, along
with her mother and three siblings, also spent a
Thanksgiving at the Byam household.
However, these are not one way trips according to Byam, as she was invited to visit Tajonay
last year and see her home, church, school and
other elements of her everyday life.
“I’m with Tajonay and her mother, her biological mother,” said Byam, “and she introduces
me as her summer mom. I feel like a co-parent.”
Byam went on to explain that Tajonay’s
mother is a single mother of four and often calls
her for advice. Tajonay also contacts Brianna
and Brendan multiple times each week, she
said.
She went on to describe the special bond
shared by all members of the two families.
Byam said each year Tajonay’s mother sends
her a card on “sisters’ day,” Tajonay’s younger
brother also visits and has camp-outs with
Brendan, and all of the children “love like brothers and sisters, fight like brothers and sisters.”
Byam’s story of her experience is one of
Fresh Air Fund at its finest. In Byam’s story, as
well as Verrengia’s story, the families are more
than just hosts and the New York City youth
are more than just Fresh Air children; they are
all family, plain and simple.
“I got into this thinking I was going to help
a child that doesn’t have the means to help themselves,” said Byam, “but what it has done for
my children and my family and my town is far
greater than I had ever thought possible. My
kids have learned to appreciate the life that they
have.”
Portland Selectmen Talk About Culvert Repair
by Joshua Anusewicz
An aging culvert at St. Mary’s Cemetery on
Marlborough Street (Route 66) spurred a
lengthy discussion at Wednesday’s Board of
Selectmen meeting.
The culvert in question is for a stream that
carries storm water from High Street, across
Route 66, and through the cemetery to the Connecticut River. Over 10 years ago, according to
First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, the town
approved the easement that would allow the
water to run through the cemetery and the culvert was constructed.
In the past few years, Bransfield said, the
culvert has eroded from consistent “scouring”
from debris. Bransfield said that in cases such
as this, it is “common practice” to help with
the maintenance of the property.
Director of Public Works Rick Kelsey said
at Wednesday’s meeting that despite an original estimate for the project of $25,000, the town
received only one bid – Faraci Concrete, LLC
for $47,000.
“I was surprised there were not more bids,”
said Kelsey, who added that the bid was left
open for one month. Kelsey said that he believes the culvert is “not in a state where it might
collapse,” but did say that the summer provides
a window of opportunity where the stream is at
a lower level.
Richard Faraci of Faraci Concrete was on
hand to explain that the higher bid was tied
mostly to labor costs that were not taken into
account when the original engineering estimate
was submitted. Faraci gave the example that a
“strength test” would have to be performed on
the deck above the culvert, which would force
construction to be delayed almost a month. He
said the project would have to be done in
smaller sections and that more engineering
would most likely have to be done.
When asked about possible alternatives to
the original plan, Faraci recommended a corrugated steel pipe that would be five feet in diameter and would be roughly at the price that
the town had estimated. Kelsey questioned,
however, whether or not the steel pipe could
handle the same amount of water flow as the
culvert.
Terri Larson, a representative of St. Mary’s
Cemetery, urged the board to move “expeditiously” to make the repairs, as the culvert has
been deteriorating more rapidly. Board member Mark Finkelstein assured Larson, saying
that “the town made a commitment…and we
will follow through.”
For now, the town plans to arrange a meeting between Bransfield, Kelsey, Faraci, and the
town’s engineer to discuss what course of action to take. Bransfield said that if a lower cost
is negotiated or the plans are changed, the Town
Charter allows the board to proceed and not
have to re-bid the project.
Bransfield said an update would be presented
at the next Board of Selectmen meeting.
***
The board also took action on several items
at Wednesday’s meeting, including an Interlocal
agreement with Middletown to provide emergency assistance and housing for prisoners.
Portland has had an agreement with
Middletown, where Middletown provides police, fire and EMT assistance to Portland, for
“a number of years,” Susan Bransfield said. The
agreement also allows Portland to house prisoners overnight at the Middletown Police Department for $50 per day.
The board approved 4-1, with Carl Chudzik
opposing, a five-year plan that would increase
the rate of the agreement 3 percent each year.
The “emergency dispatch” line item on the
2011-12 approved budget is $96,255.
Chudzik questioned the increase, saying it
seemed “excessive.” He suggested the board
shorten the length of the plan, or have Bransfield
renegotiate the contract. But Bransfield disagreed, saying that if it were renegotiated, the
rate “may come back higher.”
“This is not a commodity, this is a service,”
Bransfield said of the importance of the con-
tract.
Finkelstein added that the cost of the contract, even with a 3 percent increase each year,
is considerably lower than the town having their
own dispatch office.
The board also approved a contract for building a new roof on the Portland Public Library.
The contract is for $242,800, and Rick Kelsey
hopes to begin the renovation in August, adding that roofs “are usually summer projects.”
The contract is much lower than the
$300,000 that was estimated this spring. The
money for the project comes as part of a bonding agreement that includes over $600,000 in
additional funding for new police and highway
department vehicles, which was approved at a
town meeting in May.
The board scheduled a special town meeting to approve a plan to raze a vacant one-story
building at 170 Marlborough St. The plan is
for the building to be rebuilt as a two-story commercial building, and the demolition of the existing building would cost the town roughly
$20,000, Bransfield said.
The special town meeting to approve the plan
will be held Wednesday, July 20, at 7:15 p.m.,
at Portland Library. A regular meeting of the
Board of Selectmen will follow immediately
afterward.
Portland Resident Publishes Children’s Book on Quarries
by Joshua Anusewicz
Kearen Enright has lived in Portland for 17
years, but she admits that up until a few years
ago, she knew very little about the landmarks
that put the town on the map.
“I’m not sure I had even been to the quarries,” she laughed. “And when I did see them,
they were so breathtaking.”
Nowadays, she might know as much about
the brownstone quarries as anyone in Portland.
For the past year and a half, Enright has been
writing a children’s book about the history of
the quarries, a project she called a “labor of
love.”
It was the Brownstone Quorum, a non-profit
organization that helps preserve the quarries,
that approached Enright with the idea for the
book. About two years ago, Enright, an artist/
illustrator/wildlife rehabilitator/crafter, was at
a craft fair where some of her illustrations and
short writings were on display. Brownstone
Quorum member Alice Schumacher looked at
Enright’s work and asked her if she would be
interested in writing a book about the quarries.
Despite having limited knowledge of the
quarries, and having never written a book before, Enright said she would.
Schumacher said the idea for the book came
from interviews that the she and fellow member Gert Scully did with residents of the town.
The two women asked residents who had
memories of the quarry to share personal stories about the quarry. Seeing the effect that the
quarry had on older residents inspired the Quorum to educate a new generation and perhaps
create some whole new memories.
“If we inform the children of the town about
the quarries, they will want to visit and learn
more,” said Schumacher, who said that the
Quorum has also looked into concerts and other
events at the quarry and Riverfront Park to draw
people in.
Enright spent the past year and a half researching documents, books, and town records
to create Quarry Story: A History of the Brownstone Quarries of Portland, CT, a 30-page
children’s book that she wrote and illustrated.
The book tells the story of a 9-year-old Portland girl named Olivia, which Enright based
on a friend’s daughter, who goes on a walk with
her “300-year-old” grandfather at the quarries,
and her grandfather tells her the story about the
history of the quarries.
Enright said that one of the biggest challenges was making the book appealing to children, but still historically accurate.
“It was a little daunting, writing a fictional
story based on facts” she admitted. “I knew I
had to make it entertaining, but still accurate.”
Although her four children are older than the
book’s recommended age (9-12 years), she still
found inspiration from them. She recalled that,
as each child passed through third grade, they
learned about the history of Portland and spent
time researching it for projects. She hopes that
her book could provide students with “another
valuable resource” to use when they reach those
lessons.
“Hopefully it will make the history [of Portland] more appealing,” she said.
And she is wasting no time trying to reach
out to children. Enright will be at the Portland
Public Library on Wednesday, July 13, at noon,
to read her new book to any interested in coming. Enright said there will also be a craft session where the children will be able to turn a
piece of brownstone into a pet rock.
Schumacher said that Enright has done “an
amazing job” creating the book and that she
has already bought 15 copies for family and
neighbors.
“I cry every time I read it,” said Schumacher,
who is originally from Brooklyn, where almost
every brownstone building was built with Portland brownstone.
Quarry Story: A History of the Brownstone
Quarries of Portland, CT will be available at
the session, which is free. Copies are also on
sale at the Portland Historical Society, Brownstone Discovery Park, Broad Street Books in
Middletown and on Amazon.com. A large percentage of the profit from the book will go to
the Brownstone Quorum.
Marlborough Fire Strikes Parker Road Home
by Mike Thompson
Nobody was injured in a fire that broke out
early Thursday morning at a Parker Road
home, Fire Marshal Joe Asklar said.
At around 5:15 a.m. Thursday, a call came
in reporting a blaze at 23 Parker Rd., a onestory, single-family house, Asklar said.
No one was home at the time of the blaze,
Asklar said, and no injuries were reported.
Mutual aid firefighters responded from
Hebron, Colchester, East Hampton and
Glastonbury, Asklar said. He said firefighters
were at the scene for about two hours, though
the “initial knockdown” was done within 30
minutes.
Asklar said it appears the fire started in the
basement of the home. He said there was
structural and fire damage in the basement,
and heavy smoke damage upstairs.
The fire left the home “not habitable,”
Asklar said. There was one person living at
the residence; he is currently staying with his
son, Asklar said.
As of press time Thursday, the cause of the
fire was still under investigation, though
Asklar said it did not appear to be suspicious.
Drinking Driver Gets Into Fight
with Cop in East Hampton
by Joshua Anusewicz
A recent routine traffic stop led to a physical altercation with a police officer and left a
Marlborough man in handcuffs, East Hampton Police said.
Maurice R. Girardin, 38, of 101 South Main
St., Marlborough, was arrested Saturday, June
25, and charged with assault on a police officer, interfering/resisting arrest, drinking
while driving, driving under the influence,
traveling unreasonably fast and risk of injury
to a minor. Both the assault on a police officer and risk of injury to a minor charges are
Class C felonies.
According to Sgt. Garritt Kelly, shortly after 10:30 p.m., Officer John Wilson stopped
Girardin on Lakeview Street, for driving er-
ratically. Kelly said that as Wilson spoke with
Girardin, the conversation became heated and
Girardin threw a plastic cup of alcohol that
was sitting in his console at Wilson.
Wilson then asked Girardin to step out of
his vehicle, where a “physical struggle” ensued. Kelly said Wilson sustained scrapes to
his arms and leg, but was able to subdue and
arrest Girardin.
Kelly said that while this was taking place,
Girardin’s 15-year-old son was in the car.
Girardin was held on $5,000 bond, which
he posted, and is scheduled to appear at
Middlesex Superior Court on Wednesday,
Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. to enter his plea.
Hebron Police News
6/30: Ann P. Doherty, 49, of 199 Anderson
Rd., Tolland, was charged with DUI and improper use of high beams, State Police said.
Resident Kearen Enright recently published a 30-page children’s book dealing
with the town’s famous brownstone quarries.
Colchester Police News
6/23: Christopher Lee, 29, of 139 Crestview
Dr., was charged with third-degree assault,
third-degree strangulation, risk of injury to a
minor and disorderly conduct, State Police said.
6/23: Elizabeth Lee, 27, of 236 Dr. Foote Dr.,
was charged with disorderly conduct and risk
of injury to a minor, State Police said.
6/29: John Mulcahy, 50, of 44 Laurel Ln.,
Norwich, was charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal attempt, second-degree
assault, third-degree assault, threatening and
second-degree strangulation, State Police said.
6/30: Amber Cromeenes, 27, of 25 Victoria
Dr., was charged with fourth-degree larceny,
State Police said.
7/2: Raymond L. Gabree Jr., 19, of 860
Middletown Ave., was charged with possession
of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia
and no front plate, State Police said.
7/3: Paul Deckelman, 29, of 28 Main St., Apt.
3, East Hampton, was charged with fourth-degree larceny, State Police said.
7/5: Steven M. Conary, 29, of 82 Jerome Rd.,
Uncasville, was charged with public indecency
and breach of peace, State Police said. According to police, the arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred May 17 in the parking lot of
Stop & Shop, 99 Linwood Ave. Police would
not offer further details about the incident.
Marlborough Police News
6/29: Thomas Filloramo, 62, of 202 South
Main St., was stopped on the Exit 13 off-ramp
on Route 2, State Police said. Olmeda Perez,
20, of 70 Abbey Rd., East Hampton, was also
stopped, behind Filloramo, police said. According to police, Perez moved forward, striking
Filloramo in the rear. Filloramo reported having some back pain, but declined on-scene
medical attention. Perez was found at fault for
following too close, police said.
7/3: An unknown brand LCD flatscreen was
reported missing from Marlborough Health
Care, State Police said. Anyone with more in-
formation is asked to call Trooper McElroy at
860-537-7500.
7/4: Shortly after 7:30 p.m., Christina
Vezzetti, 19, of 607 East St., Hebron, was traveling on Exit 13, on the ramp to Route 2, State
Police said. She attempted to merge onto the
highway and made an improper turn, striking
an illumination pole, police said. Vezzetti complained of minor back pain and was taken by
ambulance to Marlborough Clinic. No other
injuries were reported. Vezzetti was issued a
written warning for making an improper turn,
police said.
East Hampton
Police News
Portland Police News
7/1: David Fazzino, 22, of 16 Meech Rd.,
Middletown, was charged with DUI and disobeying an officer’s signal, Portland Police said.
7/1: Andreas Guliani, 20, of 10 Farm Ln.,
was charged with second-degree failure to appear, police said.
7/2: Michael Dewey, 18, of 79 Elm St.,
Colchester, was charged with possession of alcohol by a minor, police said.
7/3: Kyle Nosal, 21, of 191 Wiese Albert Dr.,
Higganum, was charged with DUI and failure
to drive in proper lane, police said.
6/27: Joseph F. Parlapiano, 29, of 31 Fairfield
Dr., Windsor Locks, was arrested for seconddegree larceny, East Hampton Police said.
6/28: Elizabeth Dorothy Stevens, 38, of 320C
Jeffery Rd., Willimantic and Stanley Mitchell
Jr., 37, of the same address, were arrested for
first-degree failure to appear, police said.
6/28: Richard Connell, 60, of 9 West High
St., was issued a summons for second-degree
threatening, police said.
6/29: Samuel A. Shepley, 20, of 15 Triangle
Dr., was arrested for third-degree burglary,
sixth-degree larceny and third-degree criminal
mischief, police said.
6/30: Michael F. Bernard, 25, of 29 North
Main St., was arrested for fifth-degree larceny,
police said.
Andover Selectmen Discuss Truck Tribulations and Energy Efficiency
by Courtney Parent
On Wednesday, July 6, two new faces could
be seen at the Board of Selectmen’s monthly
meeting: Julie Haverl and Cathy Desrosiers
took their seats among incumbents Bob
Burbank, Elaine Buchardt and Jay Linddy, discussing topics varying from energy proposals
to truck troubles.
The meeting began with a brief presentation
by RHAM chemistry teacher Rick Linden, who
introduced three different energy programs to
the selectmen. All three of the programs are free
to both the town and the schools.
The first program he referenced was one
which would save residents money, at the rate
of eight cents per kilowatt hour. Unfortunately,
Linden said, as he had researched it further for
selectmen he came to find that the deadline had
passed to apply for this year’s program. Linden said it would be something to consider in
the future, and that Direct Energy may still be
able to work out a slightly higher, but still discounted rate for the town’s citizens. According
to Linden, the town would receive a “slight rebate” for anyone who signed up for the program.
The second program Linden referenced was
the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern
Connecticut State University. This program,
Linden explained, will complete an analysis of
the towns energy bills and compare them to
other schools and towns of a similar size. From
there, he said they will notify you of how you
“stack up in terms of energy conservation.”
The third program detailed by Linden was
what is known as Performance Contracting.
Through this program, he said, a large energy
management company would come to town and
do a review of all the town buildings and the
school. Through the aid of a third party the energy management company would then make
a financial estimate.
Essentially, Linden said there would be no
real cost to the town as the costs incurred would
ideally be paid for through the energy bill savings.
After detailing the three programs, Linden
made a suggestion to the board that they arrange to review presentations on the various
groups. Linden added that all of the programs
would be free to the town or essentially make
money for the town.
First Selectman Bob Burbank said that he had
been in contact with Direct Energy and unfortunately they had informed him that the program for reduced energy rates for residents was
currently unavailable.
Burbank explained that in recent years, efforts had been made in regards to energy conservation. Four years ago, he said, the town took
part in an energy audit and were able to come
up with “substantial savings” while upgrading
the town office building. Burbank said the town
had also had DCS Energy come and evaluate
town buildings for the possibility of implementing solar panels. Within that program, Burbank
said the cost to the town would also be zero.
“We try to be proactive in terms of energy
efficiency and saving the town money,” said
Burbank.
***
The Board of Selectmen also approved a request to place a 1952 forestry truck for sale with
the funds received going back to the fire commission for the purpose of re-outfitting a different truck.
Fire Commissioner Wally Barton explained
that the gas tank of the truck had “let loose” a
few months ago and a decision was made not
to put any additional funds into the vehicle.
Barton said there is currently a 1989 Ford
F350 in impound that had been donated to the
Hebron Fire Department, and he said he would
like to outfit that as the replacement truck. According to Barton, the tank, pump, lights, sirens and skid mount have all been removed from
the 1952 truck and could be put on the 1989
Ford. The cost of re-outfitting the 1989 Ford
would be under $10,000 said Barton, with
$6,000 coming from the cost of a flatbed and
additional costs incurred through mounting.
***
Another topic of concern at Wednesday’s
meeting was in regards to a subcommittee for a
potential septic ordinance in the Andover Lake
district. Art Wood, president of the Andover
Lake Management Association, addressed the
board, proposing that the town review Chatham
Health District’s ordinance with the possibility
of adopting a similar ordinance.
However, there was some confusion over this
agenda item, as selectmen had believed that
Wood wouldn’t just discuss creating the ordinance, but would also recommend to the board
citizens to serve on the subcommittee.
When Burbank questioned Wood about any
possible recommendations, Wood came forward with the names of Rob Miller from the
Eastern Highlands Health District and town
Zoning Enforcement Agent John Valente, as he
had been using them as resources when researching the possible ordinance. Once again,
confusion struck as Burbank explained that the
members chosen for the subcommittee should
not be town employees as Valente is, nor should
they be any member of the Eastern Highlands
Health District as the conclusion drawn from
the committee’s research would later be brought
to Eastern Highlands for an overall decision on
the possible ordinance.
Finally, after much back and forth discussion, Wood recommended that a subcommittee
of himself, Linden and Naida Arcenas (presi-
dent of the Andover Lake Property Owners
Association) be formed.
***
Turning to more truck tribulations, selectmen
also discussed a 1994 plow truck, to which the
frame was broken due to the extent of snow
this past winter.
Burbank explained that it would cost in excess of $30,000 to make the truck “safe and
roadworthy.” As a result of the extreme costs,
the truck was parked after the frame broke this
winter, and a 1986 truck that was used as a spare
was utilized as a third plow truck.
Burbank explained that it is too late to make
a request to CIP for a new vehicle for the upcoming winter; however, if the 1986 spare truck
is used on a regular basis it is likely it will not
last through the winter season.
Currently, the town of Coventry has a 1996
truck that they are asking $10,000 for. According to Burbank, the 1996 truck is “in better
shape than some of our trucks” and the plow
from the 1986 truck will fit onto this 1996 truck.
Burbank added that the 1996 truck also comes
with a stainless steel sanding unit.
Selectmen decided to have the truck checked
by two independent individuals prior to sending a request to the Board of Finance.
Before concluding Wednesday’s meeting, the
selectmen also reappointed Jay Linddy to the
position of vice-chairman of the board. It was
not a unanimous decision, however, with
Linddy, Burbank and Elaine Buchardt voting
for Linddy, and Haverl and Desrosiers voting
for Haverl.
***
The next Board of Selectmen meeting will
be held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. in the
Community Room of the Town Office Building.
Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough ï Hebron ï Marlborough
Door-to-Door Solicitors Asked to Leave Town
by Courtney Parent
Within recent weeks, multiple residents in
Marlborough and Hebron have complained of
individuals coming to their door, allegedly belonging to a company called UD Management
and asking for residents to purchase books or
magazines, or in some cases simply make a
donation.
One of those residents is Marlborough citizen Cassandra Hamilton. Hamilton said a representative from the company showed up on her
doorstep earlier this month. Hamilton said the
individual told her that he had been in prison
and this company aided individuals like himself in their rehabilitation efforts.
The
UD
Management
website,
udmanagementgroup.com, states that their “order processing/resource center is provided for
the purposes of teaching people, who are highly
motivated, but lacking resources and direction
to achieve their goals.”
When Hamilton agreed to buy a children’s
book, she thought it would only cost a few dollars, but to her displeasure it was much more
expensive.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll buy a children’s book,’”
said Hamilton, “figuring it would cost around
$5, after working at Barnes and Noble.”
However, the individual told Hamilton the
book would cost her $80, explaining that the
price included not only the cost of the book,
but also the cost of his clothing so he could
look presentable, the cost for being driven
around to the different residences, and a small
part for his commission.
While Hamilton had no interest in purchasing an $80 book, she did make a donation of
$20. However, after the man refused to give her
a receipt, she decided to investigate the company, both online and by contacting the town
of Marlborough.
Upon questioning the town, Hamilton found
that similar inquiries had been made to the town
and that the company did not have a permit.
Hamilton also found out that another resident,
who had purchased two books from the company, had canceled her check. Upon doing some
research on the company’s website, Hamilton
also found, much to her dismay, that the company stated that it does not take contributions.
From there, Hamilton met with State Trooper
Randy Ransom, explaining the situation and
giving a description of the individual so that
Ransom could further investigate.
However, Hamilton’s concern did not lie
within the $20 she donated, but rather within
Police Investigating
East Hampton Kayak Thefts
East Hampton Police said Wednesday they
are investigating a series of kayak thefts from
around Lake Pocotopaug over the previous
10 days.
Police said the kayaks had been reported
stolen from the beachfront area of Edgemere
Condominiums. A total of seven reports had
been filed as of July 5, police said.
As of Wednesday, one kayak had been recovered, but had yet to be identified by the
owner, police said.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged thefts is asked to call East Hampton Police at 860-267-9544 or 860-267-9922. Officer Marck Pekar is the contact for these
cases.
the quality and integrity of the company. Noting that a main concern was finding out if the
company was really on the “up and up,” as she
said if it wasn’t, those hired by the company
may be put in a “not-so-good situation.”
“The fellow who came to my door said he
was living in a halfway house,” said Hamilton.
“People like that are desperate to do anything
to change their lives, but maybe it’s not such a
good job.”
Last Wednesday, Ransom confirmed that
there was a recent incident of solicitation in
Marlborough and Hebron. Ransom said UD
Management was a legitimate company; however, the individuals in the area did not have
permits and were asked to leave.
Hebron Resident State Trooper Jim Nolting
said Troop K “caught up with” the alleged solicitors on Wednesday, June 15, in Hebron.
Upon pulling over their vehicle and running the
names of its two occupants through the police
database, it was found that the passenger had
an outstanding PRAWN warrant.
According to Nolting, the passenger identified herself as Coreta Culpepper, who had an
outstanding PRAWN warrant for her arrest from
the Madison Police Department, due to failure
to pay a ticket for soliciting without a permit in
2010. However, when the passenger was fingerprinted, she was found to be someone by
the name of Jessica Johnson. Nolting said that,
upon questioning, Johnson confessed to using
the name of her sister, Coreta Culpepper, for
the past two years. (The 2010 alleged solicitation in Madison was actually committed by
Johnson, and not Culpepper.) Both Johnson and
Culpepper are Ohio residents.
According to Nolting, this was not the first
instance of solicitation by the UD Management
Company in the Hebron area. The company was
in the area this time last year, Nolting said, and
has appeared in previous years around the same
time of year as well.
Ransom concurred, noting that the company
was found soliciting in the area last year and
though they had a permit; it applied only to
Glastonbury and they claimed they were not
aware of the town lines.
Johnson was charged with criminal impersonation and forgery in the second degree for
signing her sister’s name to court documents.
According to Nolting, the company has not been
seen in the area since the June 15 arrest.
Arrest Made in East Hampton Car Break-Ins
by Joshua Anusewicz
East Hampton Police have made an arrest in connection with
an investigation into a
string of car break-ins
that have occurred over
the past two months.
Samuel “Austin”
Shepley, 20, of
Moodus, was arrested
Tuesday, June 28, for
his involvement in an
Shepley
attempted theft that
took place at the Air Line Trail parking lot on
Smith Street. Sgt. Garritt Kelly said this Tuesday that the owner of the vehicle being broken
into witnessed the crime and alerted the police.
When officers arrived, Shepley tried to flee the
scene and discard the property before he was
apprehended by Officer Kevin Wilcox.
Shepley was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny and thirddegree burglary, a felony. He was initially held
on $25,000 bond and was arraigned at
Middlesex Superior Court on June 29. He was
released on a promise to appear and will enter
his plea on Tuesday, July 26, at Middlesex Superior Court at 10 a.m.
The arrest is related to an investigation by
East Hampton Police, in cooperation with
Colchester Police, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Law Enforcement and
State Police, into over 30 separate instances of
similar thefts over the past two months, Kelly
said.
Many of the break-ins and thefts have occurred in parking lots of state parks and the Air
Line Trail properties. Kelly said the offenders
seek out “unoccupied vehicles” that are parked
in these areas, then “smash a car window and
steal items from the cars.” Kelly said that the
offenders are usually looking for “easy targets,”
like pocketbooks and wallets that are left unattended while the owner of the vehicle is gone.
Police have encouraged those visiting state
parks to not leave valuables within their unoccupied vehicles. They have also warned that,
despite this arrest, the chance that Shepley or
others will continue to commit the same crimes
still exists. Kelly said that “in the wake of the
recent crimes,” police presence has been increased at local parks.
Kelly said that while there are several other
suspects, Shepley was not a suspect in the string
of break-ins. He did say, however, that Shepley
is a suspect in a break-in that took place the
day before at Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East
Haddam. That case is currently being investigated by the State Police.
According to the state’s judicial website, this
is Shepley’s fourth arrest in the past seven
months. In December, West Hartford Police
arrested Shepley and charged him with possession of narcotics, a felony. In January, he was
arrested by State Police Troop K in Colchester
for disorderly conduct. In May, Shepley was
arrested by East Haddam Police for third-degree criminal trespassing and sixth-degree attempt to commit larceny. The December and
January arrests are awaiting disposition, while
the May arrest is awaiting a plea.
Officers investigate a car that Moodus resident Samuel Shepley had allegedly
attempted to break into in the Air Line Trail parking lot on Smith Street.
Obituaries
Marlborough
Hebron
William D. Prentice
Gaye Keeney
William D. Prentice, 83, of Marlborough, beloved husband of 60 years to Ruth (Scanlon)
Prentice, died Thursday, June 30, at Hartford
Hospital. Born Dec. 5, 1927, in Manchester, he
was the son of the late James M. and Beda
(Johnson) Prentice.
He proudly served his country in the Army Air
Force during WWII. He was a resident of
Marlborough for 52 years and was a communicant of St. John Fisher Church in Marlborough.
William had retired from John Oldham Studios
where he had worked as a painter.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his three
daughters, Karen Eberle and her husband George
of South Windsor, Bonnie Prentice of Norwood,
MA, and Diane Prentice of Plainville; a sister,
Marjorie Meader of Florida; four grandchildren,
Nicole and Jason Eberle and Daniel and Katherine
DeMur.
He was predeceased by his brother, James M.
Prentice.
A funeral liturgy was celebrated Tuesday, July
5, in St. John Fisher Church in Marlborough.
Burial followed in Marlboro Cemetery in
Marlborough. Friends called at St. John Fisher
Church before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to St. John Fisher Church, 30 Jones
Hollow Rd., Marlborough, CT 05447.
To leave online condolences, visit
spencerfuneralhomeinc.com. The Spencer Funeral Home, 112 Main St., East Hampton, has
care of arrangements.
Gaye (Paul) Keeney,
83, of Hebron, formerly
of Glastonbury, wife of
the late Herbert F.
Keeney, died Sunday,
June 26, at Hartford
Hospital. Born Jan. 29,
1928, in Hartford,
daughter of the late
Michael and Frances
(Easton) Paul she had
lived in Glastonbury many years moving to
Hebron 10 years ago.
Prior to her retirement, she was office manager
for Christie Rigging and Trucking in Glastonbury
for 30 years. She was a graduate East Hartford
High School, a member of the Gilead Congregational Church, the Eastern Star and was a volunteer at the Bushnell. She enjoyed playing pool at
the senior center and playing pinochle and other
card games.
She is survived by her children and their
spouses: Linda and Franklin Frucce of Hebron,
David and Dawn Keeney of Glastonbury, Kimberly and Gordon Rice of Glastonbury; a sister,
Michelle Backus of Stafford, nine grandchildren
Meghan Frucce, Jonathan Frucce, Nicole Keeney,
David T. Keeney, Mason Keeney, Brooke Keeney,
Ashlyn Rice, Lindsey Rice, Nicholas Rice; and
two great-grandchildren Oliver Frucce and Peyton
Frucce.
Funeral service was held Thursday, June 30, in
the Gilead Congregational Church, 672 Gilead
St. (Route 85), Hebron. Burial followed in St.
James Cemetery, Glastonbury. At Gaye’s request,
attendees wore bright colors. Friends called at the
Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave.,
Glastonbury, on Wednesday, June 29.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to Gilead Congregational Church, 672
Gilead St., Hebron, CT 06248.
To share a memory, visit mulryanfh.com.
East Hampton
Gladys Smith
Memorial Service
A memorial service for the late Gladys L. Smith
will be held Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Christ Episcopal Church, 66 Middle Haddam Rd., Middle
Haddam, with Rev. Page Rogers officiating.
A reception for family and friends will be in
the church Parish Hall following the service.
Smith, a longtime East Hampton resident, died
in April at the age of 101. For over seven decades, she was involved in most all aspects of
civic, political, school and social leadership in
East Hampton.
Portland
Richard I. Blauvelt
Richard I. Blauvelt, 83, of South Road, Portland, died Friday, July 1, at Middlesex Memorial
Hospital. He was the husband of Julia Hawley
Blauvelt. Born in Queens Village, NY, Jan. 30,
1928, a son of the late Joseph C. and Agnes Moore
Blauvelt, he was a Portland resident for over 55
years.
He had been an insurance claims adjuster then
worked as a private investigator for 20 years before joining and later owning Flocon, Inc. (formerly of Portland) until his retirement. He was a
member of Trinity Episcopal Church and had
served as a member of the Vestry. Richard is a
graduate of Bassick High School in Bridgeport
and a U.S. Army veteran, having served with
honor in the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment.
Besides his wife Julia, he is survived by his
sons, Richard H. Blauvelt and his son Christopher of Portland, and Peter T. Blauvelt, his wife
Pamela and children Jillian and Emma of Somers.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Jill Anne
Blauvelt, his sister, Agnes, and brother, Joseph.
His family received relatives and friends in the
Portland Memorial Funeral Home 231 Main St.,
Portland, Tuesday, July 5. Funeral services were
held Wednesday, July 6, at Trinity Episcopal
Church 345 Main St., Portland. The Rev. Steven
Ling, priest-in-charge, officiated. Interment will
follow in the Swedish Cemetery.
For directions, or to leave an online expression
of sympathy, visit portlandmemorial.net.